Journal of Language and Linguistics. Vol 6 No 2 November, 2019. www.jolledu.com.ng CORRUPTION AND GOVERNANCE CRISES IN AYI KWEI ARMAH’S THE BEAUTIFUL ONES ARE NOT YET BORN Idris Muhammad L., Azan Baba J., Olusunle O. Kikelomo, Shehu Ibrahim A. Department of English Nasarawa State University, Keffi Abstract The attainment of independence and self-rule by any nation is to afford it the opportunity to benefit from the abundant human and natural resources it is endowed with. The Africans were not comfortable with the leadership and service of the colonial masters characterised by exploitation of resources, slavery, deceit, and other forms of negative tendencies. This gave rise to agitation for independent and self-rule by some African elites; hoping for better and satisfactory service for sustainable development until the late 1950’s when the dream started manifesting. This paper examines the state of African continent after independence. It also examines the high level of corruption and governance crises in Africa perpetrated by our African leaders such that it derails the continent of progress and development. The paper identifies some of the major causes of governance crisis aligning to maladministration, ethno-religious crisis, political thuggery, terrorism and other leadership problems in our text of study. It further seeks for positive change to give the Africans a sense of belonging and compete with their counter-parts globally as it has all the needs for such competition and development. Keyword: Corruption, Governance, Resources, Development, Exploitation, Deceit. - 20 - Journal of Language and Linguistics. Vol 6 No 2 November, 2019. www.jolledu.com.ng Introduction Leadership has been described as the capacity to mobilise resources, especially human, towards the attainment of set goals. It is the ability to harness the best qualities of the individuals towards the common good. In doing this, the leaders must provide the enabling environment or be able to use the power of cohesion to distil those qualities in their followers that translate to national achievements. For the socio-economic and political development of a society, the possible approach for utilising the immense positive African factor is to provide a level playing field for development, unfortunately, this is lacking in African leaders. Africa is in a painful state of suffering in the hands of its leaders. The continent is at the lowest point of its social and physical development. Though African leaders that emerged after independence are real Africans by identity but on the other hand, are like western in their fatherland. We can also say that western countries and their institutions, which try to model Africa to their desired image, have made themselves leaders of Africa through their African agents. Indeed, western leaders have contributed in ruining Africa. They support corrupt African leaders by accepting to save their looted funds and resources. Hagher states: Yet African leaders must also accept the blame for the pain, anguish and death, which Africans suffer and continue to suffer. There is a view gaining popularity that, after all, Africa works as a rational entity where leaders maximize returns on the state of confusion, uncertainty and chaos which, political instability, societal divisions, violence, crime and bring. This view sees no hope for democracy, as leaders are merely patrons and followers clients (7). - 21 - Journal of Language and Linguistics. Vol 6 No 2 November, 2019. www.jolledu.com.ng It is observed that African leaders are always getting rich and more comfortable than their led, while high level of disorder, violence, crime, war and famine become pervasive daily. This, in effect, shows that Africa is modernising without development. If this is allowed to continue unchecked, Africa might become the ultimate destination for criminality and terrorism as a result of failure in leadership and governance characterised by corruption and other forms of social vices. Corruption is a social problem that has drawn concern globally. Swamy, Lee and Azfer, assert that: Corruption in Africa is a problem of routine deviation from established standards and norms by public officials and parties with whom they interact (178). They also identified the types of corruption in Africa as bribery, private gain, and other benefits to non-existent workers and pensioners referred to as ghost workers. The dishonest and illegal behavior exhibited especially by people in authority for their personal gain is termed corruption. Furthermore, Agbaje, quoting the ICPC Act (Section 2), states that: Corruption includes vices like bribery, fraud and other related offences. Also, corruption is the abuse or misuse of power or position of trust for personal or group benefit, monetary or otherwise. Consequently, corruption is symptomatic of numerous difficulties within contemporary societies. This dangerous phenomenon usually involves two or more parties. Wraith and Simpkins asserts that: corruption is contagious. An analysis of the anti-graft/anti-corruption laws in Nigeria shows that corruption will continue in spite of the laws because the perpetrators do not fear any consequences. This is reflective of other parts of the countries in Africa. This phenomenon cuts across all segments of development such as award of contracts, promotion of staff, dispensation of justice, misuse of public offices, - 22 - Journal of Language and Linguistics. Vol 6 No 2 November, 2019. www.jolledu.com.ng embezzlement of public funds and other negative tendencies that hinder the progress and development of the continent. The failure of our leaders in emancipating the workers and peasants from economic deprivation and the adoption of capitalist political – economic system also led to the emergence of a literature that protest against capitalism and offers socialism as the solution to the continents‟ problems. Festus Iyayi, Kole Omotosho, Festus Iyayi, Ngugi Wa Thiong‟O, Chinua Achebe and other literary writers have attempted to utilise literature as an instrument of change. They assert that the problem of Africa is that of the productive lower class. In essence, the dehumanising condition which majority of our people find themselves has been brought about by insecurity of our leaders due to leadership problem for selfish interests. Killam, commenting on the leadership, social ills and moral decadence in our society, joined Achebe in saying that if one takes the example of Nigeria, which is the place he knows best, things had got to such a point politically that there was no other answer or way that you can resolve this impasse politically The political machine is so abused that whichever way one passed it, it produces the same results and therefore another force that come in The possibility of change is projected when the central character is capable of confronting and triumphing over obstacles. This approach to people‟s ability to liberate themselves from oppressive forces of society is confined to all Africa writings. Ayi Kwei Armah‟s The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born is a clear example that handles such issue. The Man who is a symbol of virtue in a corrupt Ghanaian society is depicted assisting a corrupt minister to flee from the country during the coup, thereby aiding a corrupt leader to escape the wrath of the law. The man compromises his position as a beacon of hope in the society. - 23 - Journal of Language and Linguistics. Vol 6 No 2 November, 2019. www.jolledu.com.ng Corruption and Governance Crises in The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born is one of the classic works that depicts the post independence or post colonial experience of most African countries. The use of Ghana is just a symbolic device to represent the African countries, as almost all African countries are bedeviled with this negative tendencies characterised by corruption, bad governance, and other social vices. The issue of corruption and bad governance are broadly discussed in the novel and should not be viewed as completely localised in Ghana but rather should be generally used as a minor reflection of the experiences of other African countries. While some critics commended him for his literary approach, others like Frederksen (1987), Wright (1959), condemn him for his accusations of the prevailing values in post-colonial society. On the other hand, Achebe sees Armah as too pessimistic due to his extreme monopoly of the language. Despite all these controversies, Armah‟s quest for good governance and sustainable development and the equality of Africans are desirable. Armah‟s message to the public is resistance to all the obstacles that stand against the vision of Africans and also to liberate themselves to develop and prosper. The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born captures the wide spread of corruption among Africans and attendant problems, this shows Armah‟s main perspective on harsh image of corruption and selfishness of both the leaders which hinders the African countries from development. Corruption still remains the major social, ethical and political economic challenge for which a lot of attention and emphasis has been focused. The novel is Armah‟s disillusionment with the post-colonial experience of Ghana and demonstrates the wasted hopes of Africans due to Nkrumah‟s misuse of power and wealth through corrupt activities. - 24 - Journal of Language and Linguistics. Vol 6 No 2 November, 2019. www.jolledu.com.ng Nkrumah and his corrupt government were overthrown in a military coup d„etat. It is a period in Ghana‟s history and its atmosphere of disillusion and despair, its unlimited corruption that Armah portrayed in the text. The novel has a simple and straightforward plot that tells the story of “The Man” unnamed rail clerk and his relations with his wife and family, his fellow workers…(Killam 9). This leader leads the British colony of the Gold cost to independence in 1957 which is the first African country to gain autonomy from the British control.